amount

Luke had John respond to these tax collectors with another unique saying. Only Luke said that John told the tax collectors (ὁ δὲ εἶπεν πρὸς αὐτούς) that they were to collect no more than the amount prescribed for them (Μηδὲν πλέον παρὰ τὸ διατεταγμένον ὑμῖν πράσσετε). John simply wanted them to do their job. Apparently, many of these tax collectors would overcharge people and keep the difference. Everyone was aware of this somewhat common corrupt practice. John seemed to call for honesty and justice among these Jewish Roman tax collectors.

Second Isaiah has Yahweh compare the value of all the countries and nations. They amount to nothing. They are like a drop in the bucket or dust on a scale. Yahweh considers all the islands like fine dust. Lebanon with all its trees would not be fuel enough for Yahweh. There were not enough animals there to make a burnt offering for him. All the nations are empty nothingness before Yahweh.